70 MEGALOPOLITAN LIFE dusty ranges of cacti to get to … more cacti? Well, yes, sure, Boyce Thompson Arboretum does have freaky succulents galore (including for sale outside the gift shop). And if you’re schlepping your out-of-town friends here to show off a Sonoran plant zoo, they’ll be thrilled and astonished, no doubt. However, for you, the dedicated local no longer wowed by yet another saguaro or barrel cactus or ocotillo, the arboretum offers worldly wonders that unfold like a Risk board. Its 4.7 miles of trails guide you through specimens sourced from Italy, Namibia, South Africa, Australia, Baja California and South America. Ogle a boojum, take a whiff of a heritage rose, pet a lamb’s ear, then relax in the fragrant shade of towering, streaky-barked eucalyptus trees. There’s nowhere in the world like Arizona. But in the throes of summer, it’s nice to imagine being anywhere else. i i i BEST QUEER HANGOUT THEMS. THEMSPHX.COM In the brutal climate of 2026, we’ll take every ounce of queer joy we can get. Now in its fourth year, thems. has created traditions for queer folks in Phoenix that include monthly poetry nights, pool parties and crafty weekends. This year, thems. intro- duced residency programs where LGBTQ+ participants can focus on literature, art or another outlet of their choosing while supported by the nonprofit. The months- long program culminates in an end-of- season show. If you’re looking to make gay friends, attend a Sip N Scribble event where you’ll be paired with a stranger for doodles and conversation. To really immerse your- self, attend the group’s most popular event, Fruity Poetry Night, at which baby gays and queer elders alike share vulnerable prose and quirky poems on a stage they share with volunteer-made papier-mâché fruit. i i i BEST BLOCK TO KEEP AN EYE ON HATCHER ROAD BETWEEN FIFTH AND SIXTH AVENUES Sunnyslope had a sordid 20th century. The neighborhood held a tent camp for people with tuberculosis. It was notorious for motorcycle gang violence. In general, Phoe- nicians gave it a wide berth. But a civic- minded developer is trying to change that rep, starting with one block: Hatcher Avenue between Fifth and Sixth avenues. Joe McCallum wants to rekindle a sense of place while respecting the area’s historical archi- tecture and character. So far, his buildings house a coffee shop and an artist’s studio. Stop by, and the sense of growing community is palpable. Loyal regulars, a mix of Sunnys- lopers and residents from nearby neighbor- hoods greet each other over their morning coffees and attend one-off events at the soon-to-be taproom. Once the season cools off, you can go to one of the block’s night markets. Before you know it, this little swath of Sunnyslope will be a destination. i i i BEST URBAN OASIS JAPANESE FRIENDSHIP GARDEN 1125 N. THIRD AVE. 602-274-8700 JAPANESEFRIENDSHIPGARDEN.ORG In a blink, Phoenix’s Japanese Friendship Garden transports you from the city’s dusty pavement into a lush green space. Snap a photo of the koi pond as you admire its many fish, meditate on a bench or stroll and admire tiny waterfalls. The garden hosts different events throughout the year, including tai chi classes and tea tastings, but generally the grounds are uncrowded, so you’ll have the chance to escape the city noise and find your focus, calm your nerves, notice the soft murmur of your own breathing. The smooth trail and still waters give you a senses of tranquility that you’ll carry, improbably, back into the sirens and sunlight of this desert metropolis. BEST HOME TOUR WILLO HOME TOUR WILLOPHX.COM/HOME-TOUR With exceptions, most of us in the Valley live in a fungible apartment or tract home, the architectural equivalent of a Toyota sedan. Every February, though, we can see what it’s like to have charm, style and — be still our hearts — a quarter-acre lot, thanks to the Willo Home Tour. For 27 years, the neigh- borhood association has organized this fund- raiser for preservation and improvements, giving you the ability to traipse through a dozen or so homes and drool over touches like built-in shelves, vintage cut-glass door- knobs, gabled roofs, original wood floors and even secret passageways. Most homes have been respectfully and beautifully updated with designer touches: gleaming tiled showers, resort-style pool areas. Many also have darling casitas — often serving as short- or long-term rentals — that make us want to pack a bag and move in for a while. Comple- menting the tour is a rollicking street fair with local vendors (warning: Don’t wait until you’re hangry, because the food and drink lines can stretch), vintage cars, live music and a beer and wine garden.
